Russell
Site Founder
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2009
- Messages
- 283
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta CANADA
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2010, cervids moving intrastate will be required to test for bovine tuberculosis (TB) within 90 days of their movement. The board approved the rule at the October board meeting. The action comes as a result of the recent TB cases in three Indiana farmed-cervid herds. A copy of the new rule, with further explanation, can be found on the BOAH Web site, http://www.boah.in.gov
MORE THAN 400 white-tailed deer heads were collected from seven counties during opening weekend of firearms hunting season in Indiana to test for bovine TB. This step was taken in the areas around the three positive farmed-cervid herds to determine if the disease had spread into the wild deer population. Exactly 431 heads were sampled from the following counties: Dearborn, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison, Randolph, Union and Wayne. Animals with lesions were sampled and submitted for further testing. Confirmatory laboratory tests will take several weeks to months to complete. The official USDA laboratories will be running cultures as staff time allows. Once set, culture results may take 6 weeks to 8 weeks.
Message from the State Vet
For several years the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) Meat and Poultry Inspection Program (MPIP) has been working with the meat processing industry to implement efficiency measures in the state inspection program. Much has been accomplished. The MPIP is now providing inspection service with one-third fewer employees than when the program was moved to BOAH in 1996, while at the same time the number of state-inspected plants has increased.
As we enter 2010 the MPIP is at another crossroads. During the last two years state revenues have declined at a rapid rate. The State of Indiana is taking all necessary action to deal with the funding decline. State funding for the MPIP is being reduced by 50 percent for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010. Because the MPIP is funded with a 50 percent federal match, BOAH will also lose 50 percent of the federal money for the MPIP. The total reduction is nearly $2 million dollars. BOAH is preparing a plan to accomplish this goal. Beginning immediately, the MPIP must significantly reduce expenditures to respond to the reduction in funding. Without substantial changes, there is a real risk that the program will be terminated.
In response to the reduced funding reality, BOAH will be forced to reduce its inspection and support staff. With changes in MPIP staffing, BOAH will not be able to maintain the current level of inspection service. MPIP will no longer be able to provide inspection service for custom or other work that does not require official state inspection. Inspection will be provided only when required. Each plant must consolidate work requiring inspection to the fewest number of days and hours possible. These days or parts of days will be the official state-inspected slaughter and processing daytimes for that facility. All other times will be custom slaughter and exempt processing times.
The MPIP Area Supervisors have begun consulting with each plant to establish the new inspection schedule. The MPIP will likely not be able to accommodate every request for service.
Livestock producers who use the services of state-inspected slaughter and/or processing facilities may notice changes to schedules at their local plants. Some facilities may shift the type(s) of services offered to their customers (for example, moving from state-inspected status to custom-exempt). This could have an effect on the way final products may be used by the end customer. That said, BOAH is committed to maintaining an efficient, quality state inspection program that is “equal to” federal requirements for food safety, while providing a valuable service to Indiana agriculture. To accomplish that goal in the current economy, MPIP and industry must work together to make changes to the program.
In addition to the budget impact on MPIP, BOAH’s Animal Health programs are being cut by 10 percent during the fiscal year 2011, with significant cost-cutting measures to begin in the current fiscal year, ending June 30.
As a part of those cost-cutting measures, the BOAH central office will be relocating to another, currently undetermined, location to capture the savings associated with the current leased office space. While most employees are stationed in field locations across the sate, this move will impact approximately 30 central office staff.
In the meantime, BOAH is committed to maintaining a high level of service to all citizens of the state of Indiana.
Bret D. Marsh, DVM
Indiana State Veterinarian
MORE THAN 400 white-tailed deer heads were collected from seven counties during opening weekend of firearms hunting season in Indiana to test for bovine TB. This step was taken in the areas around the three positive farmed-cervid herds to determine if the disease had spread into the wild deer population. Exactly 431 heads were sampled from the following counties: Dearborn, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison, Randolph, Union and Wayne. Animals with lesions were sampled and submitted for further testing. Confirmatory laboratory tests will take several weeks to months to complete. The official USDA laboratories will be running cultures as staff time allows. Once set, culture results may take 6 weeks to 8 weeks.
Message from the State Vet
For several years the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) Meat and Poultry Inspection Program (MPIP) has been working with the meat processing industry to implement efficiency measures in the state inspection program. Much has been accomplished. The MPIP is now providing inspection service with one-third fewer employees than when the program was moved to BOAH in 1996, while at the same time the number of state-inspected plants has increased.
As we enter 2010 the MPIP is at another crossroads. During the last two years state revenues have declined at a rapid rate. The State of Indiana is taking all necessary action to deal with the funding decline. State funding for the MPIP is being reduced by 50 percent for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010. Because the MPIP is funded with a 50 percent federal match, BOAH will also lose 50 percent of the federal money for the MPIP. The total reduction is nearly $2 million dollars. BOAH is preparing a plan to accomplish this goal. Beginning immediately, the MPIP must significantly reduce expenditures to respond to the reduction in funding. Without substantial changes, there is a real risk that the program will be terminated.
In response to the reduced funding reality, BOAH will be forced to reduce its inspection and support staff. With changes in MPIP staffing, BOAH will not be able to maintain the current level of inspection service. MPIP will no longer be able to provide inspection service for custom or other work that does not require official state inspection. Inspection will be provided only when required. Each plant must consolidate work requiring inspection to the fewest number of days and hours possible. These days or parts of days will be the official state-inspected slaughter and processing daytimes for that facility. All other times will be custom slaughter and exempt processing times.
The MPIP Area Supervisors have begun consulting with each plant to establish the new inspection schedule. The MPIP will likely not be able to accommodate every request for service.
Livestock producers who use the services of state-inspected slaughter and/or processing facilities may notice changes to schedules at their local plants. Some facilities may shift the type(s) of services offered to their customers (for example, moving from state-inspected status to custom-exempt). This could have an effect on the way final products may be used by the end customer. That said, BOAH is committed to maintaining an efficient, quality state inspection program that is “equal to” federal requirements for food safety, while providing a valuable service to Indiana agriculture. To accomplish that goal in the current economy, MPIP and industry must work together to make changes to the program.
In addition to the budget impact on MPIP, BOAH’s Animal Health programs are being cut by 10 percent during the fiscal year 2011, with significant cost-cutting measures to begin in the current fiscal year, ending June 30.
As a part of those cost-cutting measures, the BOAH central office will be relocating to another, currently undetermined, location to capture the savings associated with the current leased office space. While most employees are stationed in field locations across the sate, this move will impact approximately 30 central office staff.
In the meantime, BOAH is committed to maintaining a high level of service to all citizens of the state of Indiana.
Bret D. Marsh, DVM
Indiana State Veterinarian
